Quick connector

Abstract

A quick connect coupling includes a hollow female connector body, a male end form configured to be received in the female connector body, a retainer, and a verifier coupled. An entry end of the female connector body defines a pair of windows on opposite sides of the entry end. The retainer extends along the windows and into a bore of the female connector body. The verifier includes legs and feet that extend into the windows and into the bore. The windows define a ramped edge, and the retainer is forced against the ramped edge by an annular upset of the male end form. The retainer spreads outward and springs back after the upset clears the retainer. The feet of the verifier include a ramped surface and spread outward in response to a force applied by the upset. The verifier can be pushed down after the legs are spread apart.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A quick connector coupling comprising:
 a hollow connector body having an internal bore defining a longitudinal flow axis, the connector body including an entry end having an entry opening for receiving a male end form introduced axially in a forward insertion direction; 
 a pair of windows defined by the entry end; and 
 a retainer member defined by a base and a pair of holding portions extending upwardly from the base, the base disposed below the connector body, the pair of holding portions extending through the windows, wherein the retainer has a nominal shape and is flexible and resilient such that the retainer is biased toward its nominal shape in response to being flexed; 
 wherein each of the windows define a ramped edge of the connector body disposed away from the entry opening and forward of the retainer, the ramped edge extending longitudinally in the insertion direction such that forward movement of the retainer in the insertion direction presses the retainer against the ramped edge and causes the holding portions to flex and spread outward; 
 wherein the retainer member includes a pair of release portions having inwardly extending bend portions extending from an upper end of the holding portions, such that the bend portions are adjacent each other with no intervening structure laterally between respective laterally inward ends of the bend portions; and 
 wherein the holding portions of the retainer spread outward in response to a laterally outward force applied to the release portions. 
 
     
     
       2. The coupling of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a verifier member coupled to the entry end and extending into the windows; 
 the verifier including an actuating portion disposed above the entry end of the connector body and the windows; 
 the verifier including a pair of legs extending downwardly from the actuating portions on each side of the entry end and along a portion of the windows; 
 the verifier including a pair of feet extending inwardly from a bottom of the corresponding legs and into the windows; 
 wherein the verifier is operable between a first position and a second position, the verifier being biased towards the first position; 
 wherein, in the first position, each of the legs are engaged with a corresponding notch of the entry end defined by the windows to prevent movement of the actuating portion toward the connector body from the first position; 
 wherein, in the second position, the legs are flexed laterally outward relative to the first position and are disengaged from the notches, such that the actuating portion may move toward the connector body. 
 
     
     
       3. The coupling of  claim 2 , wherein the retainer includes a pair of arm portions that extend laterally outward from the release portions, and wherein the verifier defines a pair of slots on opposite sides of the verifier, the arm portions extending into the pair of slots. 
     
     
       4. The coupling of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of slots are structured such that the verifier is moveable downward toward the connector body relative to the arm portions of the retainer, such that the arm portions slide within the slots in response to downward movement of the verifier toward the connector body. 
     
     
       5. The coupling of  claim 3 , wherein the arm portions are moveable outwardly relative to verifier and the slots, such that the arm portions slide laterally through the slots in response to an outward force applied to the holding portions. 
     
     
       6. The coupling of  claim 2 , wherein each of the feet of the verifier define an axially forward extending tab, and each of the tabs extend into the notch when the verifier is in the first position. 
     
     
       7. The coupling of  claim 6 , wherein each of the tabs slide laterally outward from the notch to disengage the tab from the notch in response to outward flexing of the feet and legs caused by an outward force applied to the feet and legs, such that the verifier may move to the second position. 
     
     
       8. The coupling of  claim 2 , wherein each of the feet define a ramped surface that faces axially rearward and laterally inward, the ramped surface being disposed within the bore, wherein a predetermined force applied in the forward insertion direction to the ramped surface causes the feet to be pushed laterally outward. 
     
     
       9. The coupling of  claim 2 , further comprising a male end form having an insertion end and an annular upset portion extending radially outward from the insertion end, the insertion end being sized and arranged to slide between the holding portions of the retainer, the annular upset being sized and arranged to apply a forward force in the insertion direction to the holding portions during insertion and further sized and arranged to apply a forward force in the insertion direction to the feet during insertion. 
     
     
       10. The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the windows define a rear edge disposed rearward from the retainer, and the rear edge includes a forwardly projecting ledge, wherein the windows further define an upper recess disposed above the ledge and a lower recess disposed below the ledge, and the holding portions of the retainer are disposed laterally inward from the ledge when the retainer is in its nominal position. 
     
     
       11. The coupling of  claim 10 , wherein, in response to a load opposite the insertion direction, the holding portions of the retainer are limited by the ledge from laterally outward movement, and the holding portions contact the rear edge and extend through the upper and lower recesses. 
     
     
       12. The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the base, holding portions, and release portions of the retainer extend along a single common plane when the retainer is in its nominal shape. 
     
     
       13. The coupling of  claim 12 , wherein the holding portions of the retainer flex and slide along the ramped edge and move axially forward in the insertion direction and laterally outward in response to a predetermined load applied in the forward insertion direction against the retainer, and the holding portions slide back along the ramped edge rearward and inwardly when a forward load is below the predetermined load. 
     
     
       14. The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the release portions of the retainer are located above the connector body. 
     
     
       15. The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the release portions of the retainer are axially exposed, such that a lateral space between the release portions is accessible by an auxiliary tool. 
     
     
       16. A quick connector coupling comprising:
 a hollow female connector body having an internal bore defining a longitudinal flow axis, the connector body including an entry end having an entry opening for receiving a male end form introduced axially in a forward insertion direction; 
 a pair of windows defined by the entry end and disposed on opposite lateral sides of the entry end; 
 a retainer member defined by a base and a pair of spaced-apart holding portions extending upwardly from the base, the base disposed below the connector body, the pair of holding portions extending through the windows, wherein the retainer has a nominal shape and is flexible and resilient such that the retainer is biased toward its nominal shape in response to being flexed; and 
 a verifier member coupled to the entry end, the verifier including an actuating portion disposed above the entry end of the connector body and the windows, the verifier including a pair of legs extending downwardly from the actuating portions on each side of the entry end and extending into the windows, the verifier including a pair of feet extending inwardly from the bottom of the corresponding legs and into the windows; 
 wherein the verifier is operable between a first position and a second position, the verifier being biased towards the first position; 
 wherein, in the first position, the actuating portion is limited from being moved in a downward direction toward the connector body; 
 wherein, in the second position, the legs and feet are spread laterally outward, and the actuating portion of the actuating portion of the verifier is moveable in a downward direction toward the connector body; and 
 wherein the retainer includes a pair of arm portions that extend laterally outward from the holding portions, and wherein the verifier defines a pair of slots on opposite sides of the verifier, the arm portions extending into the pair of slots. 
 
     
     
       17. The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein the arm portions are coupled to the verifier, wherein the actuating portion of the verifier is moveable in a downward direction toward the connector body relative to the arm portions. 
     
     
       18. The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein the retainer and verifier are separate from each other, and the retainer moves without causing a corresponding movement of the verifier. 
     
     
       19. The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein the retainer and verifier are coupled to each other, and movement of the retainer causes a corresponding movement of the verifier. 
     
     
       20. The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein each of the feet include a tab portion and each of the windows defines a front notch in the entry end, and the tab portion extends axially into the front notch when the verifier is in the first position to limit downward movement of the verifier from the first position when the verifier legs are unflexed. 
     
     
       21. The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein each of the feet include a ramped surface that faces axially rearward and laterally inward, and a forward load applied in the insertion direction to the ramped surfaces causes the feet and the legs to flex laterally outward. 
     
     
       22. The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein the verifier is moveable in a downward direction toward the connector body only when an annular upset of a male end form contacts the feet and forces the feet radially outward to transition the verifier to the second position. 
     
     
       23. A quick connector coupling comprising:
 a hollow connector body having an internal bore defining a longitudinal flow axis, the connector body including an entry end having an entry opening for receiving a male end form introduced axially in a forward insertion direction; 
 a pair of windows defined by the entry end; and 
 a retainer member defined by a base and a pair of holding portions extending upwardly from the base, the base disposed below the connector body, the pair of holding portions extending through the windows, wherein the retainer has a nominal shape and is flexible and resilient such that the retainer is biased toward its nominal shape in response to being flexed; 
 wherein each of the windows define a ramped edge of the connector body disposed away from the entry opening and forward of the retainer, the ramped edge extending longitudinally in the insertion direction such that forward movement of the retainer in the insertion direction presses the retainer against the ramped edge and causes the holding portions to flex and spread outward; 
 wherein the retainer member includes a pair of release portions having inwardly extending bend portions extending from an upper end of the holding portions, such that the bend portions are adjacent each other with no intervening structure laterally between respective laterally inward ends of the bend portions; 
 wherein the holding portions of the retainer spread outward in response to a laterally outward force applied to the release portions; and 
 wherein the windows define a rear edge disposed rearward from the retainer, and the rear edge includes a forwardly projecting ledge, wherein the windows further define an upper recess disposed above the ledge and a lower recess disposed below the ledge, and the holding portions of the retainer are disposed laterally inward from the ledge when the retainer is in its nominal position.